Cam-actuated timer assembly



Jan. 6, 1970 C. E. LYALL ET AL CAM-ACTUATED TIMER ASSEMBLY OriginalFiled Feb. 13 1965 C. E. LYALL ET AL CAM-ACTUATED TIMER ASSEMBLY Jan. 6,19.70

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CAM-AGTUATED T IMER ASSEMBLY Original Filed Feb. 13. 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet4 United States Patent 3,487,719 CAM-ACTUA'IED TIMER ASSEMBLY Charles E.Lyall, Deerfield, Edwin A. Morrison, Highland Parli, and Robert B.Vesely, Lombard, Ill., asslgnors to Cwlligan, Inc., Northbrook, Ill., acorporation of Delaware Original application Feb. 13, 1963, Ser. No.258,204. Divided and this application June 18, 1968, Ser. No. 752,088

Int. Cl. F16h 53/ 08 U.S. Cl. 74-568 10 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSUREA timer assembly for actuation of a reciprocating valve member having atwo Step movement in one direction to reduce the torque requirements onthe timer motor including a cam shaft rotated by a timer motor and a camassembly on the cam shaft for actuating a reciprocable member biasedinto engagement with the cam assembly. The cam assembly includes atleast two cams having simultaneous drop-off points and circumferentiallyspaced cam rise portions, a rod connected to the reciprocable member andbiased against one cam, and a plate resiliently biased to engage theother cam; the rod projecting through the plate. The simultaneousdrop-off points provide a one-step movement to reciprocate the member inone direction and a two-step movement to reciprocate the member in theopposite direction.

This application is a division of our copending application Ser. No.258,204, led Feb. 13, 1963, now Patent No. 3,441,047.

The present invention relates to an improved hydraulically-operatedtwo-position control valve assembly, and more particularly to a novelarrangement of pilot valves and a timer mechanism for the valve membersin the assembly to operate the valve assembly in automatic orsemi-automatic fashion.

In the Schulze et al. Patent No. 3,006,376, entitled Automatic ControlValve for Water Softeners or Conditioners, a hydraulically-actuatedtwo-stage control valve is disclosed involving a llow directing valvewhich is actuated by a pair of spaced diaphragms operating a twopartreciprocable valve assembly and a separate eductor unit, with a timerunit actuating the ow directing valve. However, if the valve requiredservicing, considerable time and expense was necessarily consumed inremoving the valve from the plumbing connections and the tank and in thedisassembly of the ow directing valve unit.

Also, if a time control brine rell valve unit, such as shown in theMahlstedt et al. patent application Ser. No. 136,556, now Patent No.3,146,788, were utilized, provision would need be made for a secondtimer unit and for the addition of the rell valve assembly to thecontrol valve of the above cited Schulze et al. patent. The presentinvention comprehends a novel valve, valve mounting and timer assemblywhich obviates these and other involved problems and simplifies theconstruction and servicing of these valves.

An important object of the present invention is the provision of aspring wound automatic timer for use in the control valve assembly toactuate the pilot valves for the tlow directing valve unit and for thetime control brine refill valve unit. As the mounting for the pilotvalves is in a horizontal plane, two cam assemblies mounted on a camshaft provide for actuation of these two pilot valves. Also, the novelcam mechanism of the present timer provides a reduction in the torquerequirement by dividing the loading on the cams.

-Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity,efficiency, economy and e'ase of assembly and operation, and suchfurther objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fullyappear and are inherently possessed thereby.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view with the pilot valve plate removedshowing the novel control valve assembly mounted on a water conditioningtank by a mounting bracket secured to the tank.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of FIG. 1 and further showing thedetails of the mounting bracket, the pilot valve plate, and the mountingof the valve assembly and the timer mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the mounting bracket secured to the waterconditioning tank, but with the valve assembly and timer removed.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the control valve assemblyof the present invention showing the valve components in their normaloperating positions.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the cartridge unitcontaining the operating mechanism of the ow directing valve and showingthe unitary construction thereof.

IFIG. 6 is an enlarged view in vertical cross-section taken on the line6-6 of FIG. 1 showing the internal structure of the eductor unit, theconnectors to the tank and the plumbing connected on the mountingbracket.

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view partially in crosssection through thetimer mechanism and showing the cam mechanism and the associated pilotvalve stems for operating the pilot valves of the valve assembly.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view on the line S-S of FIG. 7 andfurther showing the construction of the cams and cam followers.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged exploded view of one cam mechanism and camfollower assembly.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial front elevational view of one camassembly of FIG. 7.

FIG. 1l is an enlarged side elevational view of the cam assembly withportions broken away.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings whichillustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 1 and2 disclose a water conditioning tank 10 having a mounting bracket 11removably secured thereto for the support of a control valve assembly 12and a timer assembly 13. The control valve assembly 12 includes adirectional control valve 14 and an eductor unit 15 which are mounted onthe tank 10 by suitable slip connectors 16 and 17 on the valve assembly12 and the tank, respectively.

The mounting bracket 11, which is secured to the tank, has a base 18with an upstanding lip 19 at the front of the bracket and an upstandingwall or plate 21 at the rear thereof. The plate 21 supports connectors22 adapted to be attached to the plumbing lines 23 leading to service inthe home or other installation. The base 18 has two spaced key slots 24having an enlarged portion 25 which will fit over a slip connector 17and a narrowed portion 26 (FIG. 3) which accommodates the internallythreaded tank bosses 27 dening the inlet and outlet openings into whichthe fittings 17 are threadedly engaged (FIG. 6). A clamping plate 28having a centrally located internally threaded opening for a bolt 29 ismounted between the ttings 17, 17 so that the shoulders 31 on the plateabut the fittings. The bolt 29 is then turned to lift the plate 28upward with the end of the bolt engaging the base 18 of the bracket 11until the outer ends 32 of the plate engage the undersurfaces 33 of theenlarged portions of the ttings 17, 17 to clamp the bracket onto thetank 10.

The connectors 22, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 6, are generallycylindrical each having a stepped down male portion 34 adapted tosealingly lit within a cylindrical port in the valve assembly 12, anintermediate portion 35 rotatably mounted in an extruded opening 36 inthe wall 21 and terminating beyond the bracket in a hexag* onal portion37 for ease of rotation. A cylindrical passage 38 extends from the maleportion 34 approximately halfway through the connector which thenenlarges into an internally threaded passage 39 which conformablyreceives the externally threaded end 41 of a pipe 23 of the plumbing forthe home or other installation. This bracket design will alsoaccommodate other suitable fittings such as sweat iittings or manualcontrol valves having spaced ports such as shown in the Tico Patent No.2,684,942.

A split ring 42 is received in an annular channel or slot adjacent theedge 43 of the opening36 to hold each connector from longitudinalmovement and a plate or ring 44 on the exterior of and abutting thebracket 11 has an opening receiving the intermediate portion 35 of eachconnector, but preventing longitudinal movement toward the valveassembly due to the enlarged hexagonal portion 37. An annular channel 45adjacent the end of the .male portion 34 contains a sealing ring 46 toprovide a slip connection with an effective fluid seal when waterpressure is present. Although the extruded opening 36 in the wall 21 andthe plates or rings 44 are shown in the drawings, these are notessential to the invention, as the rings `44 can be eliminated with theuse of an opening -cut in the wall 21.

A pilot valve diaphragm plate 47 is secured to the upstanding lip 19 ofthe bracket 11 and to the valve assembly by suitable securing means 48in a vertical position and parallel to the plate 21 of the bracket. Athird contact between the bracket and the pilot valve diaphragm plate 47is made through a single bolt 49 having a spacing sleeve 51 thereon;said bolt passing through the plate 47 and threadedly engaging athreaded opening 50 in the wall or plate 21. This bolt 49 is suitablypositioned to absorb the force of the moment arm developed by the waterpressure at the connectors 22 and the valve assembly 12 which tends toforce the bracket 11 and plate 47 apart. Further, the plastic componentsof the valve assembly 12 are sandwiched between rigid structural.members (the plate 21 of the bracket 11 and the plate 47) and are notrequired to absorb stresses and strains other than those of an isolatedpressure vessel.

Both the directional control valve 14 and the eductor unit have acartridge type construction for the internal operating mechanism toprovide convenience of assembly and disassembly and allow substitutionof cartridges so as to prevent unnecessary delays in the waterconditioning operation. With respect to the directional control valve14, this valve includes a hollow valve body 52 having a centrallylocated stepped hollow chamber 53 for the valve cartridge 54 and adiaphragm cap 55 closes the upper end of the chamber. A rearwardlyextending main inlet port 56 is adapted to conformably receive the maleportion 34 of a connector 22 for water entering from the pipe or line 23and communicates with a `chamber 57 which is an extension of the chamber53. This chamber 57 communicates with an outlet port 58 therebelow whichconformably receives the upper reduced portion 59 of a slip litting orconnector 16 (see FIG. 6). A resilient O-ring 61 is positioned in anannular groove 62 in the portion 59 to seal the tting within the port58.

A pilot valve fitting 63 has an annular seat 64 for the periphery of acircular diaphragm 65 controlling ow from the generally annular inletslot 66, communicating with a source of liquid pressure to be describedlater, to a central chamber 67 which communicates through a passage 68to a domed pressure chamber 69 formed in the diaphragm cap 55. The pilotdiaphragm 65 is controlled through a valve stem 71 in a manner to bedescribed later. A by-pass tting 72 extending from the body 52 having asealing ring 73 adjacent its outer end 4 contains a hy-pass passagecommunicating with the central. chamber 53.

The cartridge 54 includes a lower housing or seat ring 74 having anannular groove 75 in the top of the seat ring 74 to receive the outerperipheral edge of a lower diaphragm 76. An upper housing or ringdiaphragm retainer 77 engages the seat ring 74 to clamp the edge of thediaphragm 76 in a pressure-tight seal with the seat ring and retainerbeing held together by self-tapping screws or other suitable means` 78.Both the seat rring 74 and the ring diaphragm retainer 77 are formed ofa suitable plastic material as in the valve housing 52 and the diaphragmcap 55. An example of this plastic material is an acetal resin such aspolyoxymethylene, although it is no-t our intent to be limited by thisexample.

A plunger body 79, also formed of plastic, has an annular groove 80 atits upper end to receive the inner edge of the diaphragm 76 which isheld in place by a plastic slip ring 81 and a metal retaining nut 82which has an externally threaded downwardly extending sleeve 83 engagingthe internally threaded wall of a central passage 84 in the plunger body79. The nut 82 is tightened until bottoming on its hexagonal shapedshoulder 85 to create a predetermined pressure-tight seal. The plungerbody has an enlarged lower end 86 which extends below the seat ring 74and is covered with a resilient plunger seal to form an enlarged valvemember 87. The seat ring 74 has a conical or tapered valve seat 88formed adjacent to the bypass chamber 89 in the seat ring 74 below thediaphragm 76 to receive the valve member 87 in its normal position.Suitable openings 91 in the seat ring extend radially to the exteriorthereof.

The drain valve stem 92 of a suitable plastic is inserted in the plungerbody 79 so that the conical valve 93 seats upon the resilient plungerseal of the enlarged valve member 87. The stem 92 has a threaded upperend 94 which is threadedly engaged with a diaphragm support 95, and thestem is formed intermediate the ends with equally spaced radiallyextending lins 96 acting to guide the stem in its reciprocable movement.A helical compression spring 97 has one end seated in an annulardepression or groove 98 formed in the underside of the diaphragm support95 and the opposite end abuts the top of the retaining nut 82.

An upper diaphragm 99 is positioned to rest on the diaphragm support 95and its enlarged peripheral edge is received in an annular groove 101 onthe top of the ring diaphragm retainer 77. The retainer has a pair ofspaced radial flanges 102 (FIG. 5) which form an annular chamber 103(FIG. 4) therebetween communicating with a drain chamber 104 between thetwo diaphragms 76 and 99 through the openings 105 in the side ofretainer 77.

The above assembly as one integral unit becomes the cartridge 54 and itis installed in the valve housing 52 as follows: a resilient lower seal106 is positioned in a retaining groove in the shoulder 107 and a secondresilientv seal 108 is positioned on the shoulder 109 of the valvehousing 52. The cartridge 54 is then dropped into the chamber 53 withthe lower surface 111 of the seat ring 74- contacting the lower sealring 106 and the lower ange 102 on the ring diaphragm retainer 77contacting the sealing ring 108. The upper diaphragm 99 is located overthe support with the outer seal ring or edge in the groove 101 and aresilient cap ring seal 112 is positioned in a groove in the upper edgeof the housing 52. The seal 112 has a circular portion 113 for sealingthe passage 68 at the junction of the cap 55 and housing 52.

To further define the sealing members in the valve housing, leakageprevention between the various chambers is accomplished as follows: Thelower seal 106 assures against hard water by-pass leakage to the annularchamber 162 while the valve 14 is in the service position.

The upper seal 108 prevents leakage of either soft water while the valveis in the service position, or hard water to the drain cavity 103 orchamber 104 while the valve is in the regeneration position. The top capseal 112 provides a seal between the drain valve cavity 103 and theatmosphere. However, an additional portion of this gasket provides aseal between the chamber 69 above the upper diaphragm 99 and theatmosphere. The peripheral bead on the upper diaphragm 99 provides aseal between the upper diaphragm or pressure chamber 69 and the drainchamber 104.

When the diaphragm cap 55 is assembled on the housing, its shoulder 114engages the outer edge or bead of the diaphragm 99 to provide acompression seal thereat. Suitable fastening means 11S are utilized toattach the cap 55 to the housing 52 and as the fastening means aretightened, the downward pressure compresses the lower seal 106 and theupper seal 108 until the flange portion 116 meets with the cap seal 112and then all four seals are compressed until a predetermined compressionhas Ibeen established by the bottoming of the diaphragm cap against thevalve housing.

The eductor unit is generally similar in construction to that shown inthe ISchulze et al. Patent No. 3,006,- 376 except that it issubstantially all formed of a suitable plastic material rather thanmetal. This unit as shown in FIG. 6 includes a body member 117 having acentral chamber 118 extendingl vertically therethrough; the lower end ofthe chamber forming an outlet port 119 adapted to conformably receivethe upper reduced end 59 of a slip fitting 16. This fitting is identicalwith the fitting for the directional valve assembly 14 previouslydescribed.

A service outlet port 121 communicating with the charnber 118 extendsrearwardly of the body 117 and conformably receives the male portion 34of the connector 22 communicating with the pipe 23 leading to service inthe home or other installation.

Opposite the service outlet port is a pilot valve iitting 122 having adiaphragm v65 activated by a valve stem 71. The central chamber 123communicates with a laterally extending passage 124 which communicateswith a fitting 125 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) adapted to be connected to aconduit leading to a brine storage tank. The lateral passage contains areciprocable resilient flow control (not shown) which allows unlimitedflow to the eductor and a limited liow to the brine tank. This flowcontrol, pilot valve and brine tank have been more specificallydisclosed in the copending Mahlstedt et al. patent application Ser. No.136,556, now Patent No. 3,146,788, entitled Time Control Brine RefillSystem.

The outer annular chamber 126 of the fitting 122 communicates with avertical passage 127 extending through the fitting, but plugged at itsupper end with a suitable member 128. The passage 127 communicates witha laterally removed passage 129 (FIG. l) entering the body member 117.As shown in FIG. 6, the plate 47 is .secured to the housing throughholes 131 (FIG. l) so that the plate 47 having suitable sealing meansseals the open end of the passage 129 and sealingly compresses thediaphragm 65 into the annular groove 64. The passage 129 communicateswith the eductor throat as later described.

Within the body is an eductor housing 132 which is conformably receivedin the chamber 118 with a tapered shoulder 133 on the housing abutting acomplementary tapered shoulder in the body. Resilient rings 135 arelocated in annular channels in the eductor housing 132 above and belowthe shoulder 133 to seal the housing in the 'body member 117 and preventleakage. The housing terminates at its upper end in a recess 136, and adepending tubular part 137 extends from the lower end thereof. Passages138 offset from the longitudinal axis of the housing communicate betweena central chamber 139 and the recess 136. The chamber 139 communicateswith the service outlet port 121 and with a by-pass fitting 141'extending from the body 117 which sealingly receives the by-pass itting72 of the valve body 52 therein (see FIG. 1).

Surrounding the depending tubular part 137 below the chamber 139 is aspider member 142 having inner and outer O-rings 143 in sealingengaegment with the body 117 and the part 137. The spider contains aplurality of equally spaced openings 144 to provide communicationbetween the port 119 and the chamber 139. A check Valve 145 surroundsthe part 137 above the spider member 142 and is normally urged againstthe spider member to close the openings 144 by a compression spring 146having one end abutting the check valve and the opposite rrzl engagingthe lower edge 147 of the eductor housing A central passage 148 extendsthrough the eductor housing 132 and depending part 137 to open into thecentral passage of the fitting 16. A constriction or throat 149 islocated below an enlarged portion 151 of the passage having an opening151a communicating with the annular chamber 152 surrounding the housingand communicating with the passage 129 from the pilot valve fitting 122.Above the enlarged portion 151 is a further enlarged bore of the passagereceiving a cup-shaped housing 153 for a resilient ilow control 154.This fiow control communicates with the recess 136, and an O-ring 155seals the cup-shaped housing 153 in the enlarged bore.

An internally threaded cap 156 engages the external threads at the topof the eductor body 117 to close the upper end of the chamber 118; asealing ring 157 being clamped between the cap and the body. The capincludes an annular depending flange 158 which contacts the upper edgeof the housing 132 to properly position and retain the housing in thebody. The cap 156 has a recess to allow flow of liquid from the passages138 to the flow control 154 and the passage 148.

The installation and operation of this control valve assembly 12 as seenin FIG. 1 is as folllows: utilizing a tank 10 which has been properlyprepared with respect to the ion exchange mineral, bed depth, leak testand sterility, the bracket 11 is placed on the tank over the slipfittings 17. The bracket is then slid to the rear until the tank bosses27 are properly located in the narrowed portions 26 of the key slots 24and the clamping plate 28 is positioned with its shoulders 31 abuttingthe fittings 17. The bolt 29 is then driven downward engaging a suitabledepression in the bracket so that the ends 32 of the clamping plate 28abut the under surface 33 of the fittings 17 to clamp the bracket ontothe tank'10. Through the use of the swivel connectors 22, the tank andbracket are secured to the plumbing lines 23 for the serviceinstallation.

The eductor unit 15 and control valve 14 are then joined togetherthrough the slip by-pass fittings 72 and 141 and this assembly is placedon the tank so that the female slip connectors 16 meet the male slipconnectors 17 on the tank. The valve assembly is then moved to the rearuntil the male portions 34 of the connectors 22 mate with femalefittings 56 and 121 of the control valve and eductor unit, respectively.Then the pilot valve plate 47, iitting over and engaging the pilot valvelittings 63 and 122, is secured to the lip 19 of the bracket by securingmeans 48 which threadedly engage the lip. Also the long bolt 49 (FIG. 3)is passed through the plate 47 and the sleeve 1 and secured t0 the plate21 ot the bracket 11 to provide a rigid structure. The timer assembly 13for actuating the valve stems 71 is secured to the plate 47 and the tankand valve assembly are now ready to provide an automatic service unit.

During normal service operation, the control valve 14 is positioned asshown in FIG. 4 with hard water from the pipe 23 passing through theconnector 22 :and entering the valve 14 through the inlet port 56. Thewater enters the chamber 57 and passes downward through the ttings 16and 17 into the tank 10 and downward through the ion exchange or othertreating material. The treated water passes up through the other spacedfittings 17 and 16 and the openings 144 in the spider member 142 liftingthe check valve 145 so that the softened water enters the chamber 139and exits through the service outlet fitting 121 to the pipe 23. Liquidpressure also forces water through theby-pass fittings 141, 72 to enterthe by-pass chamber 89 via the openings 91 to exert upward pressure onthe lower diaphragm 76 to retain the plunger 79 and drain valve stem 92in their upper positions. Also, the annular chamber 162 communicateswith the annular chamber 66 in the pilot valve 63 through a suitablepassage in the valve body 52.

Both pilot valves are retained closed during the service cycle exceptthat the valve stem 71 in the fitting 122 of the eductor unit isactuated by the timer assembly 13 for a predetermined interval of timeto allow a predetermined quantity of water (based on the time intervaland a known fiow rate) to enter the brine tank to produce sufficientbrine for the next regeneration cycle. Water from the tank 10 passes upthrough the passage 148 into the portion 151 and then through opening151a to the annular chamber 152 and through the passages 129 and 127 tothe annular chamber 126. When the timer retracts the valve stern 71 touncover the central opening 159 in the pilot diaphragm 65, flow of wateris allowed to pass through the bleed holes 161 in the diaphragm and outthe opening 159 into the chamber 123. As the pressure drop at the bleedholes 161 is greater than that at the opening 159, a reduced pressure iscreated above the diaphragm 65 to lift it off of its seat and allow flowfrom the annular chamber 126 directly to the chamber 123 and thencethrough a fiow control in the passage 124 and through fitting 125 to thebrine tank.

When the water conditioning material is exhausted and requiresregeneration, the timer assembly 13 actuates the pilot valve at thefitting 63 to lift the valve stem 71 away from the diaphragm 65 and thediaphragm is lifted in the same manner as previously described for thefitting 122, the pilot 'valve for fitting 122 being closed. Water fromthe by-pass fittings 141 and 72 to the annular chamber 162 passesthrough the passage (not shown) to the annular chamber 66, chamber 67and passage 68 to the pressure chamber 69 to urge the diaphragm 99downward. The diaphragm 99 simultaneously moves the support 95, drainvalve stem 92 and the plunger body 79 downward until the valve 87 seatson an enlarged valve member seat 163 in the valve body 52 defining thelower end of the chamber 57 and then the drain valve stem 92 is moveddownward relative to the plunger body 79 until the support 95 contactsthe retainer ring 82 through the support fins 164 (FIG. 4).

Water flow through the valve from the inlet 56 is now diverted into theby-pass chamber 89 as long as continued pressure exerted into thepressure chamber 69 retains the diaphragm 99 in its lower position. Flowexits from the by-pass chamber 89 through openings 91 and annularchamber 162 and through the by-pass fittings 72 and 141 to the chamber139 in the eductor unit 15. As the water pressure urges the check valve145 onto the spider member 142, flow can only occur out through theservice outlet fitting 121 or up through the passages 138 in the eductorhousing 132. Water moving upward through the passages 138 into therecess 136 then moves downward through the flow control 154, enlargedportion 151, throat or constriction 149 and the passage 148 in thedepending tubular part 137 to enter the tank 10 through the fittings 16and 17.

Liquid flow through the constriction 149 creates a reduced pressure inthe enlarged portion 151, opening 151g, annular chamber 152 and passages129 and 127 cornmunicating with the annular chamber 126 of the pilotvalve fitting 122. The suction lifts the diaphragm 65'in the fitting 122to allow fiow of brine from the brine tank under vacuum to the fitting125 and into the passage 124. As more fully disclosed in the abovementioned Mahlstedt et al. application Ser. No. 136,556, now Patent No.3,146,788, the reciprocable iiow control in the passage 124 allowssubstantially unrestricted iiow from the rbrine tank to the eductor unit15. The brine passes through the pilot valve fitting 122, passages 127and 129, annular chamber 152, opening 151a and into the chamber 151 tomix with the water fiowing through the passage 148 andprovide dilutebrine for the regeneration of the material in the tank by upflowregeneration. f

The efiiuent exits from the tank through fittings 16 and 17 into theoutlet fitting 58 of the control valve assembly 14. This eiiuent passesup through the passage formed between the plunger body 79 and the drainvalve stem 92 into the drain chamber 104 and then through the openings10S to the' annular chamber 103 and out through any opening (not shown)to the drain fitting (FIG. 1).

When the brine is exhausted, the conduit from the brine tank is 'closedby a suitable air check valve, and water continues to fiow through thepassage 148y into the tank to rinse the material, and when the rinsingstep is completed,`the valve stem 71 seats on the diaphragm 65 in theftting63 of the control valve assembly 14 with the pressure above thediaphragm increasing until the diaphragm seats to cut off flow throughthe pilot valve fitting 63. When the pilot valve is closed, the pressurebelow the lower diaphragm 76 in chamber 89 tends to urge the plungerbody 79 upward and the pressure in the chamber 69 decreases as the watertherein is bled through a iiow control in a drain passage 166 leadingfrom the passage 68 in the valve body 52 to drain. As the water is -bledfrom the chamber 69, the drain valve stem 92 moves upward to close thepassage in the plunger body 79 and both the plunger body and the drainvalve stem move upward to seat the enlarged valve 87 on the valve seat88 shutting off fiow to the bypass chamber 89.

The control valve assembly has now returned to the position for serviceoperation, and shortly after the serv ice cycle has started, the valvestem 71 of the pilot valve fitting 122, which was not actuated duringthe regeneration operation, is actuated to lift the pilot diaphragm 65and allow a predetermined quantity of water to enter the brine tank toprovide concentrated brine for the next regeneration cycle, after whichthis pilot valve closes.

The timer assembly for the present invention must provide both for theactuation of the control valve 14 and actu-ation of the timed brinerefill system contained in the eductor unit 15. FIGS. 7 and 8 disclose anovel timer as sembly suitable for use with the pilot valves of thecontrol valve assembly 12. This timer assembly 13 includes a mountingbracket 167 which is secured at its base 168 to the pilot diaphragmvalve plate 47 or this bracket could be substituted for the plate 47 andsecured directly to the lip 19 and the control valve assembly 12 throughthe securing means 48.

A cam shaft 169 extends through and is rotatably mounted at one end inthe bearing 171 in the bracket 167, and the opposite end of the shaft isattached to a spring clutch 172. The shaft is driven by a spring woundmotor 173. The spring clutch 172 is utilized to prevent the cam shaft169 from turning in a clockwise direction when the spring motor 173 iswound up in a clockwise direction (see arrow A in FIG. 7). Once themotor has been wound, it unwinds in a counter-clockwise directioncausing the shaft 169 to rotate in the direction of .the arrow B in FIG.7. T wo cam assemblies 174 and 175 are shown mounted on the shaft torotate ytherewith and in their proper sequence actuate the mechanicalpilot valves 176 and 177.

Each pilot valve includes a cylindrical housing 178 for the valve stem71, which housing has an enlarged flared portion 179 terminating in aperipheral edge 181 which contacts the peripheral bead or edge on thepilot diaphragm 65 to aid in sealing the diaphragm in the fitting 63 or122. This fiared portion 179 extends through a suitable opening in thebase 168 and in the pilot diaphragm valve plate 47, if a separate plateis utilized. The valve stem 71 has a centrally positioned rod or pin 182mounted at one end in a piston 183 slidably received within a centralopening in the valve stem and abutting one end of a compression spring184 contained in the opening.

The opposite en d of the rod 182 extends upwardly, as seen in FIG. 7,through the closed end of housing 178 and through a plate 185 to abut apivoted cam follower 186 mounted on a shaft 187. The pin has a flange188 secured thereto which is normally adjacent to and contacting theplate 185. The plate 18-5 is urged upwardly into contact with a pair ofspaced cam followers 189 which are also pivoted on the shaft 187; theplate -being urged upwardly by a compression spring 191 surrounding thehousing 178 and having one end engaging the plate 185 and the oppositeend engaging the flared portion 179 of the housing.

The cam assemblies 174 and 175 each include an inner cam 192 and a pairof spaced outer cams 193 separated by suitable spacing means 194. Thecams 193 are fixed to the cam shaft 169 and the cam 192 can be adjustedrelative to the cams 193 by use of suitable means such as bolts 195.

As seen in FIG. 8, the cams 193 have a drop-olf point 196 and a cam riseportion 197 while the cam 192 has a spaced cam rise portion 198 and adrop-off point 199. To provide a simultaneous drop-off point for bothcam followers 18-6 and 189, the follower 186 as seen in FIG. 7 contactsboth the cam 192 and the spacer members 194. Each spacer member has adrop-off point 200 identical with the point 196 of the cams 193 but theperipheral edge of the spacers remains at the smaller diameter as at 201until substantially after the maximum spacing between the cam riseportion 197 and the cam rise portion 198. The slots 202 in the cam 192provide for the bolts 195 to give relative adjustability with the cams193. The spacer members 194 each have an inactive cam rise portion 203.

In operation, when a regeneration cycle is required for the tank 10, thetimer motor 173 is wound up to initiate counterclockwise rotation of thecam shaft 169 and the came assemblies 174 and 175. The cam assembly 175actuating the mechanical pilot valve 177 will initially actuate thedirectional control valve 14 by reaching the drop-off point 196 so thatthe cam followers 186 and 189 will simultaneously drop-off `and thespring 191 will urge the plate 185, flange 188 and rod 182 upwardly toopen the valve stem 71 of the pilot valve fitting 63 and begin the brinerinse period of the regeneration. As the regeneration progresses, thecams 193 will reach the cam rise portions 197 to pivot the cam followers18-9 outwardly and urge the plate 185 against the spring 191 to compressthe spring; the pl-ate 185 moving relative to the rod 182 connected tothe valve stem 71. Then at the end of the regeneration period, the camfollower 186 is urged outwardly by the cam rise portion 198 of the cam192 to close the valve stem 71.

Thus, the spring 191 is compressed prior to closure movement of thevalve stem, and it is in this manner, by dividing the closing operationinto two parts, that the torque requirement on the spring Wound motor issubstantially reduced and sufficient safety factor and reliability isprovided. As rotation of the cam shaft 169 continues, the cam assembly174 operates the pilot valve 176 for the timed refill of the brine tankduring the initial portion of the next service cycle; the operation ofthe pilot valve 176 occurring in the same manner as previously describedfor the valve 177. Then all cams return to their starting position dueto the unwinding of the motor 173. Although a spring wound timer 173 isshown for the timer assembly 13, other suitable mechanisms may beutilized. One such arrangement contemplated for this assembly uses anelectric motor with the cams and mechanical valves. Also solenoidactuated pilot valves and an electrical timer may be utilized to actuatethe valve stems and the pilot diaphragms.

While the improvements have been shown and described as beingadvantageously applicable to a two-step directional control valve, it isnot our desire or intent to unnecessarily limit the scope or the utilityof the improved features by virtue of this illustrative embodiment.

Having thus disclosed the invention, we claim:

1. A timer assembly for actuation of a reciprocating valve member,comprising a support bracket, a cam shaft rotatably mounted in saidbracket, a timer motor secured to said bracket and operatively connectedto said cam shaft, at least one cam assembly mounted on said cam shaft,a rod connected to a reciprocating valve member and reciprocably mountedin said bracket, a plate operatively engaging the cam assembly, said rodextending through said plate to operatively engage said cam assembly, aflange formed on said rod above said plate, and resilient 'biasing meansyieldably urging said plate toward said cam assembly, said cam assemblyincluding two cam tracks having simultaneous drop-off points andcircumferentially spaced cam rise portions, said rod and said plate eachoperatively engaging one of the two cam tracks to provide a one-stepmovement to open the reciprocating valve member and a two-step movementto close the valve member thus reducing the torque requirements for saidmotor.

2. A timer assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which cam followers arepivotally mounted on said bracket and contact said cam tracks and saidrod and said plate each contact one of the cam followers.

3. A timer assembly for actuation of a reciprocating valve member,comprising a support bracket, a cam shaft rotatably mounted in saidbracket, a timer motor mounted on said 'bracket and operativelyconnected to the cam shaft to rotate the same, at least one cam assemblymounted on said cam shaft to rotate therewith, said cam assemblyincluding a pair of spaced cams securedto the shaft and a central camadjustably mounted relative to said spaced cams, a pair of spaced camfollowers pivotally mounted on said bracket and engaging said spacedcams, a central cam follower also pivotally mounted on said bracket andengaging said central cam, said central cam and said spaced cams havingsimultaneous drop-olf points for said cam followers and said central camhaving a cam rise portion subsequent to the simultaneous cam riseportions of the spaced cams, a rod connected at one end to thereciprocating valve member and its opposite end contacting said centralcam follower, a plate contacting said spaced cam followers, said rodextending through said plate, a resilient spring operatively engagingsaid 'bracket at one end and at its opposite end contacting and urgingsaid plate against said cam followers, and a flange on said rod abovesaid plate and adapted to be contacted by said plate to normally urgesaid rod against the central cam follower.

4. A timer assembly as set forth in claim 3, in which said cam assemblyincludes a pair of spacer members between said spaced cams and saidcentral cam, one of said spacer members secured to each of the spacedcams, said spacer members having a drop-olf point simultaneous with saidspaced cams, and said central cam follower having a wide cam engagingsurface adapted to engage both the central cam and the spacer members.

5. A timer assembly as set forth in claim 3, in which upon rotation ofsaid cam shaft by said timer motor said cams rotate and said camfollowers simultaneously pass the cam drop-off point and said resilientspring urges the plate toward said cam assembly with said plate engagingthe flange on the rod to lift the rod with the plate to open the valvemember, and as the cam assembly rotates further the spaced cam followersmove up the cam rise portion on the spaced cams to urge the platedownward relative to the rod against the action of and to compress thespring, and then the central cam follower moves up the cam rise portionon the central cam to reciprocate the rod downward to close the valvemember.

6. A timer assembly comprising a bracket, a cam shaft rotatably mountedin said bracket, a timer motor mounted on said bracket for rotation ofsaid cam shaft, a'nd at least one cam assembly mountedv on said camshaft, said cam lower engaging said second cam and said spacer member.

`7. A timer assembly asset forth in claim v6, in which said second cam4is adjstably mounted on said cam shaft relative to said first cam so asto adjust the spacing between said c'am rise portions.

"8. A timer assembly as set forth in claim 6, in which said'second camhas an inactive drop-off point and said spacer member has inactive camrisev portion.

9. A timer assembly as set forth in claim 6, in which said cam assemblyincludes a pair of spaced rst cams with said second cam therebetween anda pair of spacer members, one spacer member between each said 4first camand said second cam, said first cams and spacer members havingsimultaneous drop-off points, said rst cams have 12 Y simultaneous camrise portions which are spaced from the cam rise portion of said secondcam.

10. A timer assembly fas set forth in claim 9, in which a single secondcam follower engages the second cam and the spacer members, and a pairof rst cam followers en-v gage said rst cams.

v y References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,570,728 1/1926 Chandler123-90 2,891,406 6/1959 Stoner 137-624.22 3,112,740 12/1963 Sampietro123-90 3,131,385 4/1964 Winfrey 137-624.22 3,221,117 11/ 1965 lSimmons74-568 3,301,239 1/1967 Thauer 74-568 FRED C. MATrERN, JR., PrimaryExaminer' W. S. RATLIFF, I R., Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 74-55,569

